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Biomedical Waste Program

Environmental Health Program

Disposal of biomedical waste is regulated by two agencies in Florida.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulates medical waste incinerators and final disposal of treated medical wastes.

The Department of Health regulates treatment methods, other than incineration, and commercial facilities that produce, transport, or store biomedical waste under the authority of Chapter 64E-16 of the Florida Administrative Code.

This program is administered by area Biomedical Waste Coordinators located at County Health Departments. Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Brevard County Health Departments have their own Biomedical Waste Coordinator. To find the coordinator for other areas of the state, see the list of Biomedical Waste Coordinators.

Biomedical Waste - Generators

A generator is any facility or person who produces biomedical waste as described in Chapter 64E-16 of the Florida Administrative Code.

All commercial facilities that produce sharps or other biomedical waste are required to obtain an annual permit from the County Health Department of jurisdiction. After 12 months of operation, any facility that has produced less than 25 pounds of biomedical waste each month may apply for exemption from the permit fee at the next permit renewal period. 

Annual permit fees are $170.00 per year. The permit year begins October 1 of each year. Call us or your local Health Department for specifics about applying for a permit. An exempt generator is not required to pay the $170.00 annual permit fee but must comply with all other requirements of Chapter 64E-16 of the Florida Administrative Code. Visit Florida Health Applications and Forms to Download the Permit Requirements and a Biomedical Waste Generator Permit Application.

Permitted facilities are inspected annually. Exempt facilities are inspected once every three years. Biomedical waste handling procedures are reviewed to assure proper identification, segregation, containment, storage, labeling, and disposal of biomedical waste.

All facilities must have a Biomedical Waste Plan and provide documentation of annual training in the biomedical waste rule and your plan. Records of disposal must be kept for 3 years and be available for review during inspection.

Biomedical Waste - Storage Facilities

The Department of Health regulates treatment methods, other than incineration, and commercial facilities that produce, transport, or store biomedical waste under Chapter 64E-16 of the Florida Administrative Code.

All facilities that transport and/or store or collect biomedical waste, other than what they produce themselves, must obtain an annual storage permit. Transporters, who hold biomedical waste on their truck no more than 72 hours, are exempt from storage permit.

Permits for onsite storage facilities are issued by the County Health Department having jurisdiction for the area where storage facility is located. We issue permits for those facilities located in Orange County. Annual permit fees are $170.00 and the annual permit year begins October 1st. Storage facilities are inspected annually. Download a Storage Permit Application available at Florida Health Applications and Forms.

Biomedical Waste - Transporters

The Department of Health regulates transporters of biomedical waste under the authority of Chapter 64E-16 of the Florida Administrative Code.

Anyone, who transports as much as 25 pounds of biomedical waste at one time over a public roadway, must have a transporter registration from the Department of Health. 

Applications for Transporter Registration located available at Florida Health Applications and Forms. Applications should be sent to the local County Health Department of jurisdiction. Annual permit fees are $170.00 plus $10.00 for each transport vehicle over 1. The annual permit year begins October 1.

Transporters are inspected annually and permits are issued by the area Biomedical Waste Coordinators. Transporters must obtain a permit from each county where they have a truck depot. 

A list of transporters is available at the Florida Health Biomedical Waste Program.

Transporters must submit an Annual Report of the waste transported along with their renewal for permit each year. The Report form is available at Florida Health Applications and Forms.

Biomedical Waste - Treatment

The Department of Health regulates treatment methods, other than incineration, and commercial facilities that produce, transport, or store biomedical waste under the authority of Chapter 64E-16 of the Florida Administrative Code.

All Biomedical Waste Treatment facilities and processes, except incinerators, must be approved by the State Department of Health in Tallahassee.

Medical Waste Incinerators are permitted by the Department of Environmental Protection.

After the treatment process has been approved, an initial inspection is performed and a Treatment Permit is issued by the County Health Department having jurisdiction for the location of the treatment facility.

Upon renewal, a Biomedical Waste Treatment Annual Report must be submitted. The Biomedical Waste Annual Report Form is Available at Florida Health Applications and Forms.

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